The Priory, Beech Hill

The Priory, Beech Hill
Location of The Priory, Beech Hill in Berkshire
The Priory, Beech Hill (England)
TypeCountry House
LocationBeech Hill, Berkshire, England
Coordinates51°22′25″N 0°59′02″W / 51.37370207759507°N 0.9840061326392457°W / 51.37370207759507; -0.9840061326392457
OS grid referenceSU 70817 64340
Built16th century
Built forThe Harrison family
Rebuilt1648
Architectural styleElizabethan
Listed Building – Grade II*
Official nameThe Priory including adjoining wall on the north east 6582 6435
Designated13 April 1947 (1947-04-13)
Reference no.1117130
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameDovecote and adjoining wall in The Priory garden, approximately 60 metres south west
Designated13 April 1967 (1967-04-13)
Reference no.1117131
Listed Building – Grade II
Official nameGranary at The Priory, approximately 60 metres to the north
Designated28 January 1987 (1987-01-28)
Reference no.1117132

The Priory is a historic Grade II* listed English country house. It is located southeast of Beech Hill, Berkshire on the banks of the River Loddon.[1]

History

Originally a hermitage associated with Beaumys Castle, located immediately to the northeast, it was later converted into Stratfield Saye Priory. The priory was dissolved in 1399.[2]

The land was leased from 1558 to 1665 by the Harrison family, and it is presumed they built the current house, which has a date of 1648 on the central porch.[1]

In 1947 The Priory was designated a Grade II* listed building.[3] The dovecote in the garden was Grade II listed in 1967[4] and granary similarly listed in 1987.[5]

Architecture

The house is two-storey and three-gabled. It is built of red English bond brick. Northwest of the house are a dovecote and granary. The late 17th-century garden stretches out to the southwest and is bounded by brick buildings to the northwest and a small canal to the southeast.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Tyack, Geoffrey; Bradley, Simon; Pevsner, Nikolaus; Brindle, Steven (2010). Berkshire (New, rev. ed.). New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press. p. 159. ISBN 9780300126624.
  2. ^ Nash Ford, David. "Beech Hill". Royal Berkshire History. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  3. ^ Historic England. "The Priory including adjoining wall on the north east 6582 6435 (1117130)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Dovecote and adjoining wall in The Priory garden, approximately 60 metres south west (1117131)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Granary at The Priory, approximately 60 metres to the north (1117132)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 3 August 2025.